Waddington plans campground

WADDINGTON – The Town Council is moving ahead with its plan to build up a campground on Leishman Point.

Councilor David Putney said Monday the campground committee will start by designating four dry sites towards the top of the point.

The sites will become available in time for the Bassmaster Elite Tournament set for August 8 to 11. Mr. Putney will meet with the Health Department next week to discuss campsite requirements.

Meanwhile, land surveyor and campground committee member James S. Thew, of Thew Associates, Canton, said he is drawing up several plans for possible campsites with 50 amp hookups at the top and bottom of the point. He said the 27 acres of land could support at least 25 campsites, with two toilets for males and females.

The biggest cost is going to be getting power up at the point, Mr. Thew said. Mr. Thew said he will meet with National Grid next week to determine where power can be drawn from.

Town Supervisor Mark Scott suggested that the campground committee begin by building sites at the bottom of Leishman Point, near the River Road and Town Beach. He said the alternate location could yield a bigger initial return on investment.

We need a bathhouse, and we dont have the money to build it, Mr. Scott said. The campground at Lisbon beach cost up to $250,000. I think if you consider building 10 sites at the bottom it may bring in the additional revenue and allow use of the beachs bathhouse.

Mr. Thew agreed, but said he would support building campsites at any location on the point.

If you put eight sites by the beach, that is seven of them within 500 feet of the existing bathhouse, he said. Only one would be beyond 500 feet. Your utilities are right there and that will substantially lower the costs. If we are doing four, maybe we could take a look down there, also. I dont care where it goes so long as we do it and it gets done. I would really like to see that land being used.

The land has been available since it was released as part of the 2003 Relicensing Settlement Agreement with the New York Power Authority. The land was initially purchased by NYPA as part of the St. Lawrence-FDR Power Project.

Mr. Thew said he would update the board on his progress at the next meeting on May 13.

Our next step is to see what kind of septic systems we can design, Mr. Thew said. Once we get some designs in place we can come up with numbers and how much this is going to cost. Then we can decide the best place to construct the sites.

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